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MSU Denver Chooses Architect for New Aerospace Building

MSU Denver’s proposed AES building will integrate the study of advanced manufacturing disciplines into a single building. Image Source: Metro State University Denver.

Denver, Colorado. August 12, 2014 – MSU Denver’s Aerospace and Engineering Sciences (AES) program is one step closer to launch with the selection of an architectural and engineering design firm. Pending budget approval by the state of Colorado, Anderson Mason Dale will officially join the AES team beginning October 1.

Students from the departments of Aviation and Aerospace Science, Engineering Technology, Physics and Industrial Design, and Computer Science will share the building, and an integrated curriculum. The new facility will provide students with an experiential education and access to advanced technology and labs. The program will be housed in a new $60 million cutting-edge facility set to open in fall 2017.

Architectural and engineering design work represents the first phase of the building’s planning and will include everything from the overall building design to the layout of scientific labs to furniture design and landscaping. Anderson Mason Dale’s recent work on similar projects, such as an engineering building at the University of Wyoming and the University of Denver’s engineering and computer science building, helped the firm rise to the top in the selection process.

“We were impressed by the specific experience and qualifications of the design team and the fact that they’re all on-staff at the firm,” said Sean Nesbitt, MSU Denver’s director of facilities planning. “Many times, an architectural firm will assemble a ‘dream team’ of experts in many individual disciplines, but that team has never worked together before. We felt confident in both the individual team members’ qualifications, and their ability to work seamlessly together to ensure our project progresses intelligently.”

A contract will not be signed until the state legislature completes its economic projections in late September and confirms it will release $5.2 million from the Spillover Appropriation Fund for the AES building’s planning and early construction. A new forecast is promising. The state’s General Fund revenue is expected to increase by $96.4 million in the current fiscal year.

Planning and design for the 142,000-square-foot AES building is expected to take between nine and 12 months, with construction estimated at between 16 and 20 months. The building will be located at the southeast corner of 7th Street and Auraria Parkway.

Colorado’s aerospace economy is the second largest in the nation. The MSU program will ensure that a well-educated workforce is being trained for available jobs.